Monroe Doctrine Essay

In 1820, James Monroe dominated the election of the Presidency of the United States by winning all but one of the electoral votes. In 1821 Missouri became a state and the equality of slave and free states are set at twelve. In 1823 President Monroe puts his Monroe Doctrine through, which states that the United States will not permit any European hampering in the Western Hemisphere. In 1824, John Quincy Adams in elected President of the United States. In 1825 our transportation took a gigantic step for the better because of the completion of the Eric Canal. In 1826 our transportation still prospered with the first railroad being put into use, in Massachusetts.

The Monroe Doctrine had a great impact due to its strict policy towards the European powers. It wanted to keep the U.S. trade safe from European powers and colonization. Without this important doctrine/document the Europeans would have most likely colonized, interfered with, and disrupted the western hemisphere and also the trade systems connected with them. The U.S. also would not be a balanced nation and have a balanced foreign policy without the Monroe Doctrine, which was also known as the back bone of the U.S. foreign policy.

During Monroe’s two terms, sectionalism, an excessive regard for sectional or local interest, increased greatly. This increase in sectionalism is due to acts like the Tariff of 1816. A tell tale sign that the Tariff of 1816 was going to cause sectionalism was that in the U.S. House of Representatives, the

His parents gave him a business to run, but he shortly bankrupted it. He took the bar exam, passed, and became a lawyer. He lived from May 29, 1736, to June 6, 1799. He was elected to Virginia House of Burgesses in 1765, admitted to the Bar of the General Court in Virginia in 1769, elected to the Continental Congress in 1774, Virginia Militia Leader in 1775 and Governor of Virginia, 1776-1778, 1784.

In this document, Monroe mentions that if Europe intervened in any way, that the United States would view it as an unfriendly act against the United States. This remained the cornerstone of American foreign policy for many decades.

Madison and these supporters of the war looked upon it as being inevitable, causing it to eventually also be known as “Mr. Madison’s War”. Madison was influenced to believe this war was unavoidable as a cause of the British supplying already aggressive Native Americans with weapons, along with members of his party urging the idea of kicking the Indians out of the United States and putting them in Canada. While individuals like this saw the war as inevitable others, such as southerner expansionists, had ulterior motives. These expansionists sought the state of Florida, which at the time was controlled by Spain, a weak ally of Britain. Even with multiple stances on the topic of war and individuals having ulterior motives, what started the entire discussion of war was all the different unjust actions of the British towards the United States. The British were consistently impressing American sailors, taking the Americans from their vessel and forcing them to join and work for the British Navy. Along with impressment occurring there were many more reasons behind the War of 1812; such as, harassment of United States trade by British naval ships, and “During the first three decades of American independence there was a general feeling that the British government had very little respect for the young United States. And during the Napoleonic Wars the British government actively sought to meddle with — or completely suppress — American trade with European nations.” (McNamara). Britain was so desperate in attempting to squash the United States through trade they even passed laws, known as Orders in Council, which meant for all American ships that were headed towards a European port a blockade would now be there.

The map of the United States in the late 1810s shows the sprawl the US experienced over the North American continent in the first half of the nineteenth century. Also, the division of the north and south is shown with a clear, distinct line across the US showing the border of slave states, sectionalism was rising in the US. Manifest destiny was a belief that the nation must extend westward. The phrase “From sea to shining sea” was first stated in this era. [Doc E]. The Monroe doctrine was an American document stating that any further European attempts at controlling the America’s would be considered an aggression against the United States. In addition, it stated the US would not interfere with existing European territories in the America’s such as the Guyana’s and the Caribbean islands. It was considered a bold move by many in the US because they lacked the power, militarily and financially to fight European nations at this time. Great Britain was in approval to this doctrine and in fact, was the sole nation that enforced it on other nations in the 1820s because the US lacked a sufficient navy to compete with the European nations.

To illustrate, with all the new republics appearing and freeing themselves from their rule, European monarchs attempted to strengthen their power by assisting Spain, (Becker). If more and more colonies began to break apart from Europe’s control, then the countries lose influence in foreign trade, resources, and a sense of control since more people would begin to believe that they can also rid themselves of a monarchy completely, and overthrow the European throne. Keeping as many monarchies in government would fortify the monarchy’s influence worldwide, and Spanish presence in the Americas was supported by kings and queens of other countries. Britain did have a monarchy in control, but they believed that Spanish foreign trade would impede British trade, and thus joined forces with the United States and provided navy power. Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams, managed to persuade President Monroe to issue their own statement, as he did not want British involvement since he thought it was an American affair, called the Monroe Doctrine in 1823. John Quincy Adams understood that in order for the Monroe Doctrine would not be followed unless the United States had enough military power to it carry out, but the United States itself was a young country and did not have the power for

In 1807 Thomas Jefferson would declare for the halt of American trade with Europe with the Embargo Act. However this would hurt Americans because they had cut off their only source of trade and thus the Embargo Act was replaced with the Non-Intercourse Act of 1809. This act stated that the US will trade with everyone but the French and the British, but that they would resume trade with them as soon as these two stop violating American rights. The stubborn powers won’t budge leading to Macon’s Bill #2. This said the US would trade with everyone but would stop trade with one of the two powers if one of them stop violating American’s rights. Britain would act on this quickly to snubbed French trade. However by the war’s end the American had began to rely on American made good rather than on good manufacture in Europe and thus they gain a sense of economic independence. The American were always able to declare a sense of victory by being able to hold its own against the huge global power Britain.

The only policy enacted by James Monroe in 1823 is referred to as the Monroe Doctrine and serves as a symbol of early American nationalism. In Document A, the Monroe Doctrine is being demonstrated by an invisible border that separates the Western Hemisphere from the Eastern Hemisphere and a stop sign place on the Western side. The European region states , “What do you mean off-limits?”, which shows how they did not approve of the doctrine that keeps them from obstructing the expansion of the U.S. on its Western side. In Document B, two flower pots are illustrating nationalism. One flower pot is smiling while stating , ”Wow!

December 3, 1823 the United State president James Monroe was giving his annual state union address when he basically told the crowned heads of Europe to stay out of American and said that the era of colonization is over in the Americans. This is how the Monroe Doctrine came to act. The Monroe Doctrine became a facet of American foreign policy through the 19th century and the 20th century. Let's look at the year that led up to the Monroe Doctrine. In the 1820 the monarchy in Europe was not good. The Napoleonic War and the French Revolution was convasting the powers of Europe . 1815, Revolution was finishing and the monarchy of Europe are reinstated. many of the states stated to want independence because of the French and the American Revolution.

It was a concern for both Britain and the United States. The United States also had a few concerns that others did not. One concern was that these two places believed the doctrine was a way to restore Latin America. The other concern was towards Russia and their “territorial ambitions.” As an outcome the foreign minister of Britain, George Canning, mentioned to join the U.S. and British declaration. This declaration overall was to stop colonization in Latin America. James Monroe liked this idea, along with presidents before Monroe. The former presidents that were also for the joint declaration were Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. There were than people that were against this declaration. Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams, believed that this was not the smartest idea. He argued that the United States should have their own declaration apart from the British. (Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica,

For starters, the Monroe Doctrine further clarified the position of the United States, and shared an initial response when the problem arose about settlements within North America. Since 1821, Britain and Russia’s movement along the Pacific caught President Monroe’s eye.

In Document D, the debate on whether the state government or the federal government held the power to handle the issue which brought up questions and doubts respecting the government as a whole. Internal matters within the government are shown in Document H when John Quincy Adams wrote, “I remarked that the communication recently received from the Russian Minister … afforded a very suitable and convenient opportunity for us to take our stand against the Holy Alliance”. This clearly is from the opposite side of President Monroe. If you look at Document I. it gives details on which state voted for which president and just how much people disagreed. people's views majorly changed between the 1820 Presidential Election and the 1824 Election. In 1820, only one state voted against the majority. However, in 1820, American is broken up once more showing the return of the party system which was ended at the beginning of Monroe's

As governor of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson took young Monroe under his guidance when teaching him about the law during the year of 1780. Jefferson encouraged his close friend Monroe to become involved with politics. Monroe passed the Virginia bar in 1782 and was elected to Virginia 's House of Congress. A year after being elected to the house, Monroe served in the Continental Congress from 1783 to 1786. During this time, young eighteen-year-old Elizabeth Kortright, daughter of well-known New